Magnetic hockey game

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus comprising a playing surface made of nonmagnetic material upon which are placed a plurality of magnetic game pieces. The game apparatus is surrounded by a frame and a plurality of transverse members are positioned underneath the playing surface and moved in both directions along the longitudinal axis thereof. A magnet is associated with each one of the transverse members and cables and pulleys are provided for moving the transverse members longitudinally of the playing surface and for moving the magnets transversely of the playing surface. At least one of the transverse members is mounted for movement within other transverse members so that each transverse member can travel the full length of the playing surface. The above arrangement permits each magnet to move one of the game pieces placed on the playing surface longitudinaly and transversely on such playing surface.

United States Patent [191 Lebrun 1 1 MAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME [76] Inventor:Robert Lebrun, 2231 rue Augier,

Montreal, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:302,869

[52] US. Cl 273/85 F, 46/240 [51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 [58] Field ofSearch 273/1 M, 85 F, 86 B, 94 R,

[111 3,801,100 [4 1 Apr.2, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello 57 ABSTRACT A game apparatuscomprising a playing surface made of non-magnetic material upon whichare placed a plurality of magnetic game pieces. The game apparatus issurrounded by a frame and a plurality of transverse members arepositioned underneath the playing surface and moved in both directionsalong the longitudinal axis thereof. A magnet is associated with eachone of the transverse members and cables and pulleys are provided formoving the transverse members longitudinally of the playing surface andfor moving the magnets transversely of the playing surface. At least oneof the transverse members is mounted for movement within othertransverse members so that each transverse member can travel the fulllength of the playing surface. The above arrangement permits eachmagnetto move one of the game pieces placed on the playing surfacelongitudinaly and transversely onsuch playing surface.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 2 \974 SHEU 1 0f 2 MAGNETICHOCKEY GAME The invention relates to a game apparatus and moreparticularly to a game apparatus using miniature players such as hockey,soccer or football players positioned and moved on a playing surface tosimulate a real game.

In the known game apparatus, such as the so-called hockey games, theminiature players are limited in their movements either to a simplerotational movement on the playing surface or only permitted a minimumamount of displacement. This inflexibility in the movements of theminiature players often fails to maintain the players interest in thegame. Attempts have been made to improve the game apparatus of this typeby using magnetically actuated miniature players to provide a greaterdegree of movement of the players on the playing surface. However, theknown game apparatus, such as the one disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3419271issued Dec. 31', 1968, for example, are too complex to have anysignificant commerical value.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a magneticallyactuated game apparatus which is of simple construction and thereforless expensive to manufacture.

The game apparatus, in accordance with the invention, comprises anon-magnetic playing surface upon which are placed a plurality of gamepieces and a plurality of transverse members positioned underneath suchplaying surface and adapted to be moved freely in both directions alongthe full longitudinal axis of the playing surface. A magnet isassociated with each of the transverse members and means are providedfor moving such magnets transversely of the playing surface. The abovearrangement permits each magnet to move one of the game pieces placed onthe playing surface longitudinallyand transversely on such playingsurface.-

The means for moving each transverse member along the longitudinal axisof the playing surface may comprise an endless cable attached to thetransverse member, a pulley rotatably mounted at each end of the playingsurface for supporting the cable, and means for rotating one of thepulleys to drive the cable and so move the transverse member.

The means for moving each magnet transversely of the playing surface maycomprise an endless cable upon which the magnet is secured, a pulleyrotatably mounted at each end of the transverse member for supportingthe cable, and means for rotating one of the pulleys to drive the cableand so move the magnet.

The driving pulleys for moving each transverse member longitudinally ofthe playing surface and for moving each magnet transversely of the sameplaying surface are operated by the players through control wheels. Suchcontrol wheels have a certain weight so as to act as flywhells to imparta predetermined momentum to the transverse members or the magnets inresponse to a rotational impulse given to the control wheels by theplayers.

The invention will now be disclosed with reference to a preferedembodiment thereof and to the accompanying drawings in which:

HO. 1 illustrates a prospective view of the top portion of the gameapparatus;

F IG. 2 illustrates an over-all prospective .view of the operatingmechanism of the game apparatus;

FIGS. 3, 4, illustrate detail views of the operating mechanism of thegame apparatus;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structural arrangement of the magnets of the gameapparatus; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a game piece which may be used with the apparatus inaccordance with the invention.

Refereing to FIG. 1, there is shown a game apparatus -10 comprising aplaying surface 12 held by a surrounding frame 14. The playing surface12 simulates a real ice rink upon which miniature hockey players areplaced and moved. It is to be understood that other types of playingsurfaces could be used depending on the game it' is desired to simulate.The miniature players are made of or carry pieces of magnetic materialfor a purpose to be disclosedlater. The embodiment illustrated in thedrawings includes two players 16 placed in front of goals 18 and eachmounted for swivel movement in front of a goal by means of handle 20.Two movable players 22 are placed and adapted to be moved on the playingsurface 12.

Refering to FIGS. 2 to 4, each miniature player 22 is moved by means ofa U-shaped transverse member 24. The transverse members are mounted formovement one within the other so as to permit movement of the transversemembers the full length of the playing surface 12. Each transversemember 24 is moved by means of an endless cable 26 which is secured tothe transverse member by means of a clamp 28. The endless cable is wounda predetermined number of turns around two pulleys 30 mounted on shafts32 so as to permit the transverse member to move the full length of thetable while preventing sliding of the cable on the pulleys. This way,the transverse members are always kept parallel to theends of the table.The endless cable also passes around two spacing pulleys 33 which areslidally mounted on a supporting shaft so as to permit winding of thecable on the pulleys 30. The shafts 32 are rotatably mounted in theframe 14 and one of them is driven by a control wheel 34 which iscoupled to the shaft through a belt 36 passing around two pulleys 38,one of which is keyed to the shaft 32 and the other to the shaft 40which is itself keyedto the control wheel 34. The control wheel is madeof heavy material in order to act as a flywheel to impart a momentum tothe transverse member 24 which will permit the transverse member to movea substantial distance along the playing surface 12.

The transverse U shaped members 24 have a hollow horizontal portion 24aand two vertical leg portions 24b. A pulley 42 is rotatably mountedwithin each leg portion 24b of the transverse member 24 and an endlesscable 44 is supported by such pulleys. The lower transverse memberfurther comprises a second set of pulleys 46 for spacing the cable 44because of its longer leg portions 24b. The pulleys 42 and Y46 have a Vshaped groove 45 therein for preventing sliding of the cable withrespect to the pulley. I

The lower portion of cable 44 passes through the hollow portion 24a ofthe transverse member 24 and the upper portion thereof holds a magnet48. The magnet 48 is moved across the playing surface by means of acontrol wheel 50 which is coupled to one of the pulleys 42 through ashaft 52. Such shaft has a groove 47 therein extending the full lengththereof and the pulley 42 is coupled to the shaft by means of aprotrusion slidably engaged into the groove. The other pulley 42 isrotatably mounted on a sleeve 51 secured to the transverse member andsupported by a shaft 53 extending the full length of the playingsurface. It is to be understood that the groove 47 in shaft 52 is topermit longitudinal movement of the transverse members during thetransverse movement of the magnets. Control wheel 50 is made of heavymaterial in order to act as a flywheel in the same manner as controlwheel 34.

It will be easily understood that the upper transverse member 24 has ashorter portion 24a so as to permit the transverse member to move insidethe legs 24b of the lower transverse member. This way, each transversemember is movable along the full length of the playing surface.Furthermore, the leg portions 24b of the upper transverse member areshorter than the corresponding leg portions of the lower transversemember and the pulleys 42 thereof are arranged in such a way as topermit the upper portion of the endless cable 44 to move underneath thecorresponding upper portion of the cable 44 of the lower transversemember, again so as to prevent interference in the movement of one ofthe transverse members by the other.

The cables 44 may be made of nylon or other simular materials. They mayalso be made of stainless steel or other non-magnetizable materials. Astainless steel wire of 5 thousand of an inch in diameter has beenexperimented and found satisfactory.

Refering to FIG. 5, the magnets 48 are positioned in a casing 54 and thecasing of the magnet associated with the upper transverse member isshaped in such a way as to permitsuch casing to pass under the casing ofthe other magnet if they happen to contact each other duringthe game, orunder the cable of the lower transverse member. 7

Refering to FIG. 6, each miniature hockey player is mounted on acarriage 56 having two back wheels 58 and a swivel front wheel 60. Theback wheels 58 are freely mounted on thus supporting shaft so as topermit easypivotal of the carriage about a point approximately midwaybetween the two wheels. A piece of magnetic material 62 is secured tothe carriage 56 and is so positioned that the stick 64 of the miniaturehockey player is maintained substantially forward of the player duringthe movement of the carriage by the magnet 48.

In operation, the hockey player 22 is moved along the playing surface 12by displacing the transverse member 24 longitudinally of the playingsurface and the magnet 48 transversely of the playing surface until suchmagnet 48 attracts the piece of magnetic material 62 of the carriage 56.The movement of the transverse member 24 and of the magnet is controlledby control ,wheels 34 and 50 of each player. To simulate a real game,the control wheels 34 and 50 are rotated in such a way as to permit aplayer 22 to carry a puck 66 towards the goal of the opposite player.

During movement of the player 22 towards the goal of the oppositeplayer, the magnet 48 may be oscillated asillustrated in FIG. 6 of thedrawings so as to simulate tl1 movement of a real hockey player carryingthe puck 66 towards the goal. v

Of course, the opposing player may prevent the player carrying the puck66 from reaching the goal by placing himself in front of the player asin the real game or by trying to take the puck away from the opposingplayer with his stick.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to ahockeygame, it is-to be understood that the operating mechanism disclosed mayalso be used with other types of games. It is also to be understood thatthe structure illustrated may be modified and that the scopeof theinvention is to be limited only by the ap- 5 pended claims.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a. a plurality of magnetic game pieces;

b. a non-magnetic surface for supporting said game pieces;

c. a plurality of transverse members positioned undemeath andtransversely of said playing surface, at least one of said transversemembers being mounted for movement within the other transverse membersso as to permit each transverse member to travel the full length of theplaying surface;

d. means for moving each transverse member in both directions along thelongitudinal axis of said playing surface;

e. a magnet linked with each one of said transverse members; and

f. means for moving such magnet transversely of said playing surface,thereby permitting each magnet to move one of the game pieces placed onsaid playing surface longitudinaly and transversely on said playingsurface.

2. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for movingeach transverse member along the longutidinal axis of said playingsurface comprises an endless cable attached to the transverse member, apulley rotatably mounted at each end of the playing surface forsupporting the cable, and means for rotating one of said pulleys todrive said cable and so move the transverse member.

3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means forrotating said one pulley is a control wheel made of heavy material so asto impart a predetermined momentum to said transverse member.

4. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for movingeach magnet transversely of the playing surface comprises an endlesscable upon which the magnet is secured, a pulley rotatably mounted ateach end said transverse member for supporting said cable, and means forrotating one of said pulleys to drive said cable and so move saidmagnet.

5. A game apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means forrotating said one pulley comprises a control wheel of heavy material soas to impart a predetermined momentum to said magnet.

6. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transversemembers are U-shaped.

7. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the cables supportingthe magnets are spaced from the bottom surface of the playing surface adistance such as to permit the magnets to attract the game pieces whilepreventing interference of the magnets with respect to each other.

8. A game apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the magnetsare positioned in individual casings and wherein said casings are of ashape such as to perrnit their relative movement when they come incontact with each other.

9. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each game piece ismade in the shape of a hockey player holding a stick, and wherein saidhockey player is mounted on a carriage having two back wheels and afront swivel wheel, said carriage carrying a piece of magnetic materialwhich is positioned on'the carriage between said back and front wheelsto maintain the stick of the hockey player substantially forward duringmovement of the carriage.

1. A game apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of magnetic game pieces;b. a non-magnetic surface for supporting said game pieces; c. aplurality of transverse members positioned undeRneath and transverselyof said playing surface, at least one of said transverse members beingmounted for movement within the other transverse members so as to permiteach transverse member to travel the full length of the playing surface;d. means for moving each transverse member in both directions along thelongitudinal axis of said playing surface; e. a magnet linked with eachone of said transverse members; and f. means for moving such magnettransversely of said playing surface, thereby permitting each magnet tomove one of the game pieces placed on said playing surface longitudinalyand transversely on said playing surface.
 2. A game apparatus as definedin claim 1, wherein said means for moving each transverse member alongthe longutidinal axis of said playing surface comprises an endless cableattached to the transverse member, a pulley rotatably mounted at eachend of the playing surface for supporting the cable, and means forrotating one of said pulleys to drive said cable and so move thetransverse member.
 3. A game apparatus as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid means for rotating said one pulley is a control wheel made of heavymaterial so as to impart a predetermined momentum to said transversemember.
 4. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said meansfor moving each magnet transversely of the playing surface comprises anendless cable upon which the magnet is secured, a pulley rotatablymounted at each end said transverse member for supporting said cable,and means for rotating one of said pulleys to drive said cable and somove said magnet.
 5. A game apparatus as defined in claim 4, whereinsaid means for rotating said one pulley comprises a control wheel ofheavy material so as to impart a predetermined momentum to said magnet.6. A game apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transversemembers are U-shaped.
 7. A game apparatus as defined in claim 6, whereinthe cables supporting the magnets are spaced from the bottom surface ofthe playing surface a distance such as to permit the magnets to attractthe game pieces while preventing interference of the magnets withrespect to each other.
 8. A game apparatus as defined in claim 7,wherein each of the magnets are positioned in individual casings andwherein said casings are of a shape such as to permit their relativemovement when they come in contact with each other.
 9. A game apparatusas defined in claim 1, wherein each game piece is made in the shape of ahockey player holding a stick, and wherein said hockey player is mountedon a carriage having two back wheels and a front swivel wheel, saidcarriage carrying a piece of magnetic material which is positioned onthe carriage between said back and front wheels to maintain the stick ofthe hockey player substantially forward during movement of the carriage.